paemelee



UNITED STATE PATENT O FICE.

WILBUR F. PARMELEE; or MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, A'ssIenono' DWIGHT J. ,PAYnnoF SAME PLACE. I

IF'RAMEUFORTHAMMIOCKS, 8 .0,.

SPECIFICATION forming part ofLetters 'Patent No; 381,025, dated April lo, 1888.

Application filed September 15, 1887. Serial No. 249.710. tNo model.)

To all whom it may concerns Beit'known that'I, WILBUR F. PARMELEE, j

a citizen of the United States, residing at Mid.

dletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented'new and useful Improvements in Frames for Hammocks, &c., of which the following, is a specification.

This invention relates to a portable and ad- 7 j ustable framefor supporting a hammock, an

awning or tent, a table, achilds cradle, a horizontal bar for gymnastic exercises, or a swing suspended from said bar. 1

The invention comprises a folding and knoclo down frame composed of abase, struts, braces,

a top cross-bar, and other attachments, an

ranged and combined as hereinafter'more fully set forth, whereby it is readily adaptedsfor varlous uses, either outdoors or indoors, as required. l

I In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of my improved folding and adjustableframe as arranged for supporting a hammock and awning. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the frame with its struts in a vertical position, connected at the top by a cross-bar, from which is suspended a swing, and showing 1 in dotted lines the position of atable when the swing is removed. Fig. 3 isadetail perspective view of a portion of thebase with inner brace and cross-piecethat connects the side braces. Fig. ,4. isa perspective of the top cross-piece. Fig. 5 represents the table removed. Fig. 6 is an under plan view of the awning detached. Fig. 7 is a sectional perspective detail view of a portion of one of the struts withswiveled side'braces. Fig. 8 shows a modification in the form of the frame. Fig. 9 shows a device for suspending a'hammock.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the frame-base, which may consist of one or more horizontal bars or sills, two

parallel bars separated bya slight interval, as

7 shown in Figs. 1 and 3, being preferable.

To each end of the base 1 is'pivoted' a strut, 2, of sufficient length and strength to form an adequate support, for a hammock, or a swing,1

or other attachment. Each strut 2 is provided 7 with a pivoted inner brace, 3, and pivoted side braces,'4, as shown.

The inner braces, 3, are provided at their free ends with cross-pins 5, adapted to be interlocked with recesses 6,

Jitsends with similar pockets, 20, for receiving formed in castings. "7, attached tothe base as shown in Fig. 3, and so hold the struts 2 at any desired angle; The side braces, 4, are; connected at their lower ends by cross-pieces 8, which can be secured to the ground by'pegs, hooks, staples, or other fastenings, 9, so as to.

prevent the frame from being tipped or tilted over. These cross-pieces 8 are independent of the base 1 and struts 2, as'shown, so as to readily adjusted to any anglewith the base.

. .60 enable the struts 2 and side braces, 4, to be a This construction also enables the cross-pieces 8 to be movedtoward'or from the betselwith varying inclinationsof thestruts 2, and theremock-frama The base lmay also besecured to the frame by pegs'lO or other fastenings.

I prefer, however, to hold the base from tilting'by means of a bifurcated casting, 11, centrally located on each cross-piece 8, and in which rests apin, 12, projecting from the lower end of the adjacent strut.

By means of hooks'13 near' the upper" ends of the struts 2 a hammock, 14, can be suspended from the frame," and by adjusting the inner braces, 3, toward or from the center of the basal the distanceof the hammock from k the ground can'be varied, as desired;- 1 i 1 To the upper. end of each strut 2, I may pivot an inward-projecting arm, 15, to, assist through a screw-eye, 16, depending'from the center of a centralcross-rod or stretcher,-17,

that supportsa'nd'spreads the center of the awning. This stretcher 17 is contained inatransverse pocket, 18, formed across the cen- 4,

ter of the awning 19,which is'also providedat theistretchers 21, by which the ends of the awning are extended. Screw-eyes 22'are attachedto each end stretcher, 21, midway bartween its center and opposite ends for attachment of spiral springs 23, that are connected. in pairs by means of rings 24, which are also adapted to engage the hooks 12, that support the hammock. These springs 23 are'adapted to take up any slack in the awning occasioned by the weight of a person in a hammock. I By arranging the springs 23 as shown they also too 5 i by affords a more firm support for the ham-,

serve to equalize the strain on the awning and cause it to lie smoothly on its supports, and they also obviate any liability of breaking or bending the stretchers when the greatest tension necessary to hold the awning smoothly is required,or when the struts 2 are adjusted toward each other,so as to raise the center of the awning.

It is obvious that by arranging the struts 2 in a more or less vertical position the awning 19 will be correspondingly raised or lowered, and can thus be given any desired pitch. Should it be desired to shorten the awning, the springs 23 at one end can be detached from the screw-eyes 22, so as to enable that end of the awning to be rolled,a series 'ofbutton holes or openings, 25, being provided to permit the passage of the screw-eyes 22, so that the awning can be readily rolled until its length is suf' ficiently diminished, after which the springs will be replaced, as before. If desired, a longitudinal slit, 25, can be formed in this end of the awning to prevent an undue thickness of material above the adjacent arm 15 when the awning is rolled. The awning can be adjusted at any angle to either side of the frame by means of cords 26,secu red to the end-stretchers, 21, and passed around or beneath buttons 27 attached to the struts.

In order to provide a support for a swing or a horizontal exercising-bar,the struts2 will be broughtinto a vertical position at right angles with the base 1, and connected at the top by a cross-bar,28, as shown in Fig. 2. This crossbar 28, as shown in Fig. 4, has a mortise, 29,

in each end, to engage the upper ends'of the struts, and is supported or held in place by means of pins 30, passed through said struts. It is also provided on its under side with mortised or recessed castings 31,to engage the pins 5 on the upturned inner braces,3,which, when thus arranged, serve to prevent sagging of the cross-bar 28,and thereby strengthen it, so that it can be safely used either as a horizontal exercising-bar' or as a support for a swing, 32, as shown, said swing being suspended by means of eyebolts 33, or otherwise ,as preferred.

While the struts 2 are secured in a vertical position, if the swing is removed a table, 34, Fig. 5, having slots or notches 35 at each end, can be supported on pins or cross-rods 36, Fig. 2, passed through holes 37 in the struts.

The pivoted ends of the braces 3 and 4 canbe connected with the struts 2 either by means of fixed bearingplates 38, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or by swiveled bearings 39, Figs. 7 and 8, the latter being preferable, as they enable the braces to be readily turned in any desired direction to effect the required adjustment or to facilitate folding the frame.

Instead of employing a base composed of parallel bars or sills, as shown in Fig.1, I may pivot the struts 2 at their lower ends to a pedestal, 40, as shown in Fig. 8. In this case the lower ends of the struts can be beveled to rest squarely on the base of the pedestal, or they can be connected by an inner horizontal brace, '41; but in all cases they will be provided with the pivoted side braces, 4, as before described, and these braces should be connected with the struts by means of the swiveled bearings 39,to enable them to be more readily adjusted to afford a suitable support for the frame. With this form of frame I also prefer to employ inwardly-curved 'springarms 42, having hooked inner ends to support a hammock or similar attachment. These springarms42 are attached to the upper ends of the struts by means of adjustable clips 43, so that they can be easily adjusted to support the hammock at a greater or less height. I may also use these spring arms 42 with the frame shown in Fig. 1, instead of the hooks 13, be fore mentioned.

While the frame is particularly designed as a hammock-support, it is obvious that it may, if desired, be employed as a support for a cradle, a baby-jumper,or other attachment of similar character.

At all times, whetherused as a support for a hammock, a cradle, a baby-jumper, aswing, or a table, the frame can be covered with an awning or a tent. It will also be seen that the different adjustment of the frame to adapt it for its various uses can be readly accomplished with little labor and without requiring any great skill, and when the frame is no longer required for use it can be taken down and disconnected or folded,so as to bring it into a small space for transportation or storage.

Instead of suspending the hammock from hooks 13, I may attach cams 13 to the struts 2, as shown in Fig. 9, said cams being grooved to engage and hold the hammock-ropes.

What I claim as my invention is I 1. In a portable and adjustable frame for hammocks and swings, the combination of a base, struts pivoted to said base, an inner brace connected with each strut, pivoted side braces having a swiveled connection with the struts, and cross-pieces connecting the lower ends of the swiveled side braces and independent of the base and struts, said cross pieces being movable toward and from the base, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a base and pivoted struts, of an upper cross-bar to connect the upper ends of the struts when said struts arein a vertical position, inner braces pivoted to the struts and adapted to be connected with either the base or upper cross-bar, side braces having a swiveled connection with the struts, and cross-pieces connecting the lower ends of' the swiveled side braces and independent of the base and struts, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a base having a series of lateral recesses and struts pivoted to the ends of the base, of inner braces pivoted to the struts and provided with laterally-pro jecting pins'to engage the lateral recesses of the base, side braces connected with the struts, and cross-pieces independent of the base and struts to connect the lower ends of the side braces, said cross-pieces and side braces being movable towardhand from the base, substan tially as described. 7 1 i 4. The combination of the base 1, the pivoted struts 2, pivoted arms 15, attached to the upper ends of said struts, said arms being pivotally connected at their inner ends, the awning 19, having central cross-rod or stretcher, 17, and end cross-rods or stretchers, 21, and the springs 23, connecting the ends of said awning with the struts," substantially as described.

5. The combination of the base 1,.the pivoted struts 2, having-hooks 13 and buttons 27, the arms 15, pivoted to each otherand to the upper ends of the struts, the awning 19, having cross-rods or stretchers 17 and 21, said presence of two witnesses the springs 23, and the cords 26, substantially as described. Y

6. The combination of 'the base 1, the; piv otedstruts 2, having pins 12 attheir lower-- ends, thepivoted side. braces, 4, and the crosspieces 8, connecting said side braces andrpro vided'with castings 11 to engage the pins 12, substantially as described. a

. In testimony whereof I affix my signaturein Y WILBUR F. BARMELEE; Witnesses: v m

GABRIELLA'M. PARMELEE,

'BERTHA E. BLENUS. 

